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Low expectations high

Germany coach Joachim Low expects his side's Group D to be one of the tightest next summer, predicting a battle to the very end.

Germany coach Joachim Low expects his side's Group D to be one of the tightest next summer, predicting a battle to the very end.

The 2006 hosts were placed in Group D together with Australia, Serbia and Ghana and Low is not taking any of the three opponents lightly.

"We have lots of respect for Serbia and I have seen some of their games from the qualifiers on DVD and saw how they left France clearly behind them," he said.

"And Ghana are not an outsider either. Along with Algeria and the Ivory Coast, they are one of the strongest teams.

"They did well in Germany (in 2006) and I think they knocked Brazil out and they have Michael Essien, who Michael Ballack knows well. He is a top-level player."

Germany start their campaign against Australia in Durban on June 13 and Low expects that to be a tough opening fixture against a side who had practically knocked Italy out of the last World Cup, until a dubious penalty decision gave the eventual champions a lifeline.

"It is going to be an important game for us and it will be important to win it," added Low.

Germany's final group game will be against Ghana in Johannesburg, not too far away from the base they have selected for the duration of the tournament.

"We are happy to play our third and potentially decisive game close to our hotel," said Germany's team manager Oliver Bierhoff.

"We are happy with the draw. We didn't get France or the Ivory Coast so it could have been harder, but we are up against physical teams and they are going to demand everything from us."

Getting off to a good start will be crucial for Germany, who then face Serbia in Port Elizabeth on June 18, but Bierhoff thinks they will get their easiest fixture out of the way first.

"Australia are a team we fancy our chances against," he said. "We have the better quality and, if we prepare correctly and are fit, then we should beat them."

Ghana are the team causing Bierhoff the biggest headache and he admitted that he would have preferred to draw a South American opponent rather than one from Africa, who he claims "enjoy a bit of home advantage."